STEVE Jackson cradled his best mate in his arms and listened to him utter his last words: "Steve, Steve, I can't move mate, I'm going, tell Gill and the kids how much I love them."

It was typical of dedicated husband and father Chris Edwards, 49, named yesterday as man killed on Saturday riding his jet-ski off Porth Ceiriad, near Abersoch.

After the wave threw him from his machine, injuring his head or neck, he lay dying in the arms of his closest friend.

Mr Jackson duly passed Chris' words to his heartbroken family. Wife Gill said yesterday: "He was a very, very special person."

His children Kirsty 19, and Jamie, 22, remembered a "fantastic, brilliant father". They said: "You couldn't ask for a better dad."

At their home in Bryn Road, Alltami near Buckley, yesterday the family recalled all the wonderful times they shared together on the Lly^n, astretch of North Wales which Chris adored and where the family had aholiday caravan.

"He just lived for that coastline, we spent so much time there, he loved St Tudwal's Island and the dolphins," said Gill.

His brother Kevin, 46, who lives near Caergwrle, Wrexham, described him as a "perfectionist". He was also an extremely experienced jet-skier and very safety conscious. The whole family ride jet-skis and Chris made sure all were properly trained.

Chris was jet-skiing with two friends, but as usual kept Gill informed about where he would be and how long he would be away. He also made sure he carried flares.

Gill was walking on a different beach when she realised something was wrong. "As time went on I saw flares go up and the next thing Isaw the lifeboat go across, I knew there were not many people on the water.

"I was just about to put everything back in the jeep when Chris' friend arrived and he could scarcely speak. I got to the lifeboat station and I thought he was in the ambulance, but he wasn't. Next thing I heard the helicopter and I knew it was not minor."

It was while he was in the water that Chris told his best friend "Jacko" from Mynydd Isa, near Mold, to tell Gill and the children how much he loved them.

"They worked on him on the beach, giving CPR, and they worked on him all the time in the helicopter," said Gill. "I met the two nurses who worked on him in Bangor for half an hour and they were wonderful."

Gill, a secretary at Hawarden High School, said Chris was at the forefront wanting to ensure proper safety standards for jet-skiing.

He was well-known in the area and always helping other people, whether repairing their craft or helping tow them to safety.

Gill turns 50 today - Chris' 50th would have been next August.

A native of Penyffordd, near Mold, Chris attended Castell Alun, Hope, and Buckley Elfed high schools and left to take an apprenticeship at Hawker Siddeley, soon to become British Aerospace, at Broughton. He became an aircraft fitter but left to become a civilian worker at RAF Sealand.

But after suffering with tinnitus, Chris was medically retired from RAF Sealand and advised not to work until his hearing had stabilised.

Gill went out to work, first at Argoed High near Mold, and then Hawarden High, while Chris became a full-time house dad.

His son Jamie said: "I haven't just lost my dad, he was my best mate." Kirsty added: "And mine, he picked us up from school every day and brought us back. He just made sure we did absolutely everything. He's given us the best bringing up."

Chris worked for a short time on supply at Argoed High before being recruited by Holywell High as a full-time laboratory technician.

As the school yesterday paid glowing tributes to Chris, Gill said he had become an invaluable member of the team there and helped youngsters win various engineering award schemes.

"He was a top-class craftsman," said brother Kevin.

Apart from his passion for boats and jet-skiing, Chris "had petrol in his veins" according to Gill, and restored an old Triumph Stag to concours condition and a superb Lotus Elise. But he also found time for Gill's and Kirsty's love for horse-jumping.

Jamie has followed in his father's footsteps and works for Airbus at its satellite factory in Buckley, while Kirsty is studying health and safety at the North East Wales Institute.

Gill and Chris were married for 23 years, although were together for 34 years. His funeral will take place this Friday, noon, at Hope Parish Church, where the couple were married.

The family have asked for donation to the RNLI. An inquest was opened yesterday and adjourned.